Bella is back; missing dog found

Updated 11:53 pm, Friday, March 29, 2013

After being missing for more than three weeks, Bella, a 7-year-old golden lab, has been reunited with her Stratford owners. Bella was taken from a car parked at The Home Depot on Monday, March 11, 2013. Her Stratford family used social media and posters to find her.
Photo: Contributed

After being missing for more than three weeks, Bella, a 7-year-old...

Bill Novotny stands next to his car in Stratford. On the side window is a poster offering a reward for the return of the family dog, Bella. The dog was taken from the parking lot of The Home Depot in Derby on Monday, March 11, 2013. After being missing for more than three weeks, Bella, a 7-year-old golden lab, has been reunited with her Stratford owners.
Photo: Connecticut Post

STRATFORD -- Bella, a yellow Labrador retriever who has been missing for more than three weeks, was finally reunited with her owner Thursday.

William Novotny, the dog's owner, told the Valley Independent Sentinel that he got a call from the Hartford area informing him Bella had been found. He went to meet those who found the dog, but said that he didn't expect it to be Bella.

The couple who found Bella wants to remain anonymous, Novotny said, and he declined to discuss the incident with the Connecticut Post on Friday morning. Novotny and his family posted hundreds of fliers in the area and started a Facebook group, Bring Bella Home, that had attracted more than 2,000 "likes."

The Facebook page had been taken down Friday morning, and Novotny said he didn't want any publicity about Bella's return.

"I'm taking her to the vet today so she can get a microchip. That way she'll never get lost again," Novotny said.

Bella had been lost March 11 in the parking lot of The Home Depot in Derby. Novotny and his wife believed the dog was stolen from the car.

His wife went in to get a can of paint, leaving Bella in the car with the window cracked four inches. When she returned to the car about 10 minutes later, Bella was not there.

Novotny said Thursday that Bella, who has a liver problem and requires medication, is feeling fine and glad to be home.